2005-08-09
Richard Harkness - KNIGHT RIDDER NEWS SERVICE

QUESTION: I own a health food store in Dayton, Ohio, and am writing in regard to your recent column on cinnamon. I recently read that, according to the official botanical nomenclature, the name Cinnamomum cassia (cassia cinnamon) has been changed to Cinnamomum aromaticum. This helped me understand why none of my products listed the cassia name, but several listed the aromaticum name.

ANSWER: Cassia cinnamon is the type found to lower blood levels of cholesterol and sugar.

Here we're talking about synonyms ... two names for the same thing. Thanks for letting my readers know that manufacturers might be using the aromaticum name rather than the cassia name on product labels.

QUESTION: Is cassia cinnamon available in stores? My brother is a diabetic with high cholesterol.

ANSWER: First, see the above information, which will help you avoid name confusion.

High cholesterol and diabetes (or pre-diabetes) often are present together.

Since the common cinnamon spice found in grocery stores is a blend that contains the cassia type as well as other types, you probably want to use at least one-half a teaspoonful per dose. These products apparently don't list their ingredients.

You can also find cassia cinnamon capsules sold as a dietary supplement at health food stores and on the Web ... the typical dose would be 1,000 mg or more.

If your brother decides to try cinnamon, the dose of his diabetes medications may need to be cut back to prevent low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), and this should be done only under the watchful eye of his physician.

QUESTION: I visited my doctor today and found out my cholesterol was really bad and my triglycerides were through the roof. Rather than take a drug, I think I would like to give cinnamon a try. What do you think?

ANSWER: Cinnamon appears to push down both triglycerides and cholesterol, so it might be worth trying.

When triglycerides are extremely high, you're at risk for pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). Generally, the first concern in this case is to lower the triglycerides, and then go after the cholesterol.

You're likely to need more than cinnamon, so be sure your doctor works with you on this.

QUESTION: I am a type 1 diabetic and am on insulin and metformin. Would cinnamon help me?

ANSWER: Maybe, but you have to be very careful.

You have type 1 diabetes, so your pancreas cannot produce insulin (In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas is still capable of producing insulin).

As you know, if you inject yourself with too much insulin, your blood sugar will fall too low.

Metformin is an oral drug that boosts insulin's sugar-lowering effect.

Cinnamon also appears to boost insulin's effect.

You might be hoping that cinnamon could take the place of the metformin.

Because of the real danger that your sugar levels could drop dangerously low, you should work cinnamon into the mix only under the careful supervision of your physician.

Richard Harkness is a consultant pharmacist and specialist in natural therapies. E-mail: rharkn@aol.com.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050809/news_lz1c09qanda.html